Projectiles intended to be fired by a fire-arm

ABSTRACT

A projectile intended to be fired by a firearm comprising a rear portion of general cylindrical configuration whose diameter determines the gauge of the projectile and a front portion of general conical configuration ending in a front point. The front portion has, between the front point and the rear portion, a curved front hollow zone joined to the front point, a curved rear hollow zone connected to the rear portion, these two hollow zones being joined together by at least one curved bulge zone.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to projectiles intended to be fired by a firearmcomprising a rear portion whose diameter determines the gauge of theprojectile and a front portion of general conical configuration endingin a front point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Projectiles of this type known up to present had a front portion ofgeneral conical configuration and of simple shape which could beconical, ogival with a convex curvature, or ogival with a concavecurvature. The shock effects on penetration of such a projectile werelimited, which restricted the stopping power of the projectile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention the projectile has increased shock effectswith respect to conventional projectiles, because the front portion ofthe projectile has, between the front point and the rear portion, afront hollow zone connected to the front portion, a rear hollow zoneconnected to the rear portion. These two hollow zones are joinedtogether by an intermediate zone formed by at least one bulging zone.

This arrangement makes possible, on penetration, a first shock effectproduced by the bulge zone and a second shock effect produced by therear hollow zone at the level of its connection with the rear portion ofthe projectile.

Furthermore, the bulge zone, situated between the two hollow zones,facilitates the use of a round of ammunition equipped with such aprojectile in an automatic, semi-automatic or repeating weapon. In fact,said bulge zone facilitates the introduction of the ammunition in thechamber of the weapon, by cooperating with the access ramp to saidchamber.

Advantageously, the rear portion comprises a succession of bulgesseparated by hollows. The diameter of the rear portion at the level ofthese bulges determines the gauge of the projectile.

Preferably, the radii of the curvature of the hollow zones of the frontportion are equal to each other and equal to the radius of curvature ofthe bulge zone of said front portion. The radii of curvature may have avalue equal to a third of the length of the front portion.

Also preferably, the radii of curvature of the bulge of the rear portionare equal to each other and equal to the radius of curvature of thehollows of said rear portion. The radii of curvature may have a valueequal to a third of the length of the rear portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a recess is formed in therear portion of the projectile and extends as far as its front portion.

The invention may in any case be well understood from the followingdescription as well as the accompanying drawings which complement andwhich drawing is relative to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The single FIGURE of the drawing shows, in axial section, a projectileaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This projectile has a rear portion N₁, whose diameter determines thegauge of the projectile, and a front portion N₂ of general conicalconfiguration and ending in a front point A.

The front portion N₂ has, between the front point A and the rear portionN₁, a front hollow zone Z₁₇ connected to the front point A, a rearhollow zone Z₇ connected to the rear portion N₁. These two hollow zonesZ₁₇ and Z₇ are connected together by an intermediate zone formed by atleast one bulge zone Z₉.

The connection of this bulge zone Z₉ with the rear hollow zone Z₇ may besituated at two thirds of the length LN₂ of the front portion N₂, fromthe end of the front point A.

Advantageously, the rear portion N₁ may comprise a succession of bulgesP₃,P₂ separated by hollows P₁. The diameter of the rear portion N₁, atthe level of these bulges P₃, P₂, determines the gauge of theprojectile.

Preferably, the radii of curvature R₁₇, R₇ of the hollow zones Z₁₇,Z₇ ofthe front portion N₂ are equal to each other and equal to the radius ofcurvature R₉ of the bulge zone Z₉ of said front portion N₂. Also, theseradii of curvature R₁₇, R₇,R₉ preferably have a value which is equal toa third of the length LN₂ of the front portion N₂.

Preferably also, the radii of curvature R₃,R₂ of the bulges P₃,P₂, ofthe rear portion N₁ are equal to each other and equal to the radius ofcurvature R₁ of the hollow P₁ of said rear portion N₁. These radii ofcurvature R₃,R₂,R₁ further preferably have a value which is equal to athird of the length LN₁ of the rear portion N₁.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, a recess 2 is formed inthe rear portion N₁ and extends as far as the front portion N₂.

This recess 2 is formed by a rear truncated cone 2a with angle α₃, by anintermediate truncated cone 2b with angle α₄ and by a front cone 2c withangle α₅. The apex 2d of this front cone 2c is situated in the frontportion N₂, approximately at the level of its bulge zone Z₉.

The angle α₃ is greater than the angle α₄.

The angle α₅ is less than angle α₃ and is greater than the angle α₄.

When the projectile of the invention is intended to be crimped to a caseE, this crimping is formed at the rear portion N₁ on the bulge P₃situated the closest to the front portion N₂.

The front point A of the front portion N₂ may have a flat face PA or apointed or rounded end.

I claim:
 1. A projectile intended to be fired by a firearm comprising:arear portion of generally cylindrical configuration whose diameterdetermines the gauge of the projectile, and a front portion of generallyconical configuration, starting at said rear portion and ending in afront point, wherein said front portion has, between said front pointand said rear portion, a curved front hollow zone circumferentiallylocated about said front portion and defined by a radius of curvaturejoined to said front point, and a curved rear hollow zonecircumferentially located about said front portion and defined by aradius of curvature connected to said rear portion, wherein these twosaid hollow zones are joined together by at least one curved bulge zonecircumferentially located about said front portion and defined by atleast one radius of curvature, and wherein all of said zones connectedtogether define a continuous surface which in cross-section shows acontinuous curve of sinuous shape.
 2. The projectile according to claim1, wherein the radii of curvature of said curved front hollow zone andsaid curved rear hollow zone of said front portion are equal to eachother and equal to the radius of the curvature of said curved bulge zoneof said front portion.
 3. The projectile according to claim 1, whereinthe value of said radii of said hollow zones and bulge zone is equal toa third of the length of said front portion.
 4. The projectile accordingto claim 1, wherein the connection of the curved bulge zone with thecurved rear hollow zone is located at two thirds of the length of thefront portion, from the end of said front point.
 5. The projectileaccording to claim 1, characterized by the fact that a recess is formedin the rear portion and extends into the front portion.
 6. Theprojectile according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that therecess is formed by a rear truncated cone, by an intermediate truncatedcone and by a front cone having an apex, the apex of this front conebeing situated in the front portion.
 7. The projectile according toclaim 6, characterized by that fact that the cone angle of the reartruncated cone is greater than the cone angle of the intermediatetruncated cone, and that the cone angle of the front cone is less thanthe cone angles of both other truncated cones.
 8. The projectileaccording to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the front point ofthe front portion has a flat face.